Chapter 31

Welp here's that odd chapter I told you about last A/N. Hope it's alright, I kinda like the story I wrote in it, actually, it was a dream I had a week or so ago, really thought it was cute, but the ending there is a LOT sadder than I remember it being in the dream. Might be my usual angst showing it's way through or something, but whatever.

Anyway, enjoy this little extra, next chapter is gonna be kinda upsetting, so be prepared.

-I do NOT own Inuyasha or it's characters

-I DO own Sonya, Niki and the plot

~TL S0nya

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A Girl and Her Dog

There once was a Dog, loyal to his family, powerful and proud. No other was like this Dog, born under the crescent moon.

There once was a Girl, beautiful as the snow lily, and smart as the scholars that taught her. No other was like this girl, born from mortal parents.

The years passed by, and the Dog grew restless, he yearned for adventure like the days when he was a pup. So, under cover of night, he slipped away from his family and pack to explore like he once did many years ago.

The Girl, born from mortals, raised to be a princess, felt trapped. Unable to even see outside the walls of her own home, grew weary of her life. She longed to see the world outside, and so, she slipped away under the cover of night.

The Dog, searching for adventure.

The Girl, longing for more.

They would meet under the Crescent moon sky, as the fates had written for them so long ago.

Niki frowned slightly as Sonya paused the story to take a drink of water, her thoughts going a mile a minute. "Uh, explain to me again how exactly is this story important for me to hear?"

Sonya's blue eyes twinkled with mischief as she grinned over at her human counterpart. "Because I said it was. Do you want to hear the rest or not?"

Heaving a frustrated sigh, Niki sat back against the pillows and waved a hand at the wolf to continue. "Alright, fine."

"Thought so, now shut up and just listen, alright?" A fanged smirk stole across her face, Sonya looked back down at the scroll in her hands once more.

The Girl, enjoying her freedom for the first time in her life, failed to see the men following her, evil intent in their eyes. They knew who the Girl was, and wished to destroy her parents by destroying her.

The Dog, smelling the danger and the Girl, grew curious and moved closer so he could see. There in the light from the night sky, knelt a Girl, staring at the water in front of her, obvious enjoyment on her face as the men crept up behind her.

Not knowing who the Girl was, the Dog stayed silent and hidden, choosing to watch for now, wanting to know more about the danger in front of him. Seconds later, the men jumped on the Girl, tying her up and ignoring her screams for help.

Deep inside the Dog, a beast howled at the Girl's screams, confusing him as to why it reacted in such a way. Curiosity, a strong trait in his family, pulled at him to draw closer, to reveal himself.

Stepping from outside the trees, the Dog towered over the men and Girl, frightening them deeply and sending the men running away, leaving the Girl behind, tied up and at the mercy of the Dog.

Seeing the frightened tears in her eyes, the Dog shifted, drawing himself deep inside and stepping forward under the image of a man instead, quelling the Girl's fears if only a little.

Kneeling beside her, the Dog cut the ropes from the Girl and watched with deep curiosity as she moved away from him, the scent of fear and confusion surrounding her.

'Girl, why do you fear me.' The Dog asked, eyes shining the color of precious metal watched as she turned and looked at him.

'Dog, why did you save me.' The Girl replied, earning a look of approval from the Dog. Despite her fear, she was brave, and he could understand that better than anything.

'Those men, why did they want you.'

The Girl fell silent, eyes studying the Dog in front of her, unsure if he planned to do the same with her should he know who she was.

'I will not harm you.' The Dog said finally, trying to quell the Girl's fears.

'I am a princess. The men would have killed me to destroy my parents.' The Girl finally said softly, her eyes drifting away from the Dog and staring out over the water instead, it's still surface reflecting the sky above.

'I see. It is dangerous for you to be alone.' The Dog murmured, his gaze still locked onto the Girl. 'I will return you safely home.'

'I do not wish to return home.' The Girl turned to look at the Dog finally, a fire burning in her eyes he had never seen before. 'I wish to see the world, to know how it grows old.'

The Dog, feeling the same, grew silent, allowing the Girl to continue with her explanation.

'I have not seen outside the walls of my own home. This is the first I have smelled the air that did not blow through open doors, that did not pass over dusty streets.' The Girl grew silent, her eyes drifting down to her hands as she pulled at the grass.

'It is not safe.' The Dog finally said, making the Girl look up at him once more. 'You will only be attacked again.'

'I do not care.' The Girl, locking gazes with the Dog, refused to back down from her decision.

'Allow me to accompany you.' The Dog said suddenly, surprising the Girl with his request.

'Why would you want to accompany me.' The Girl asked in confusion. 'I am certain you do not wish to spend time with a mortal such as myself.'

The Dog did not understand his decision himself, but the beast inside demanded he do so, and with curiosity, allowed the desire to come forth. 'I will do as I please.'

The Girl, not knowing anyone outside of her home aside from the Dog, did not know what else she could do. It was made clear she would need protection only moments after leaving her home, and the Dog did not seem to desire to harm her.

'Very well.' With this decision, the Dog and Girl left together, to travel far and wide and explore the world around them.

It was not long before the Girl's father began to send soldiers to find her. Asking far and wide if anyone had seen the Girl and where she might be.

The Dog, hearing the questions, made sure to keep the Girl far away from the soldiers, selfish in his desire to keep the Girl beside him, if only for a little longer.

The months passed, the seasons changed, the Dog and Girl fell in love.

As the first flowers of spring began, the Dog and Girl consummated their love, laying together under the blossoms of the trees above them. They understood their love would never be accepted, but desire and their hearts would have no other.

Time passed, the Girl discovered she carried a child and still did not wish to return home. She wished to stay with the Dog, forever, and to never leave his arms again.

However, the Dog knew it would not be long before his own family would find him, and should they find himself and the Girl, they would kill her, and the child she carried.

The Dog, knowing she would never understand, returned her to her home and father in the cover of night, her sleeping form laid on the futon as he turned to leave. Deep sadness clawed at the Dog, but instinct drove him to protect the Girl, at all costs.

And so he left, shedding his human form to once more return to his family.

The Girl, upon waking, understood instantly the Dog had left her, and wept tears of deep sorrow. The months passed, and her child grew, unable to be hidden away any longer.

Her father, finally knowing the sire of her child, refused to let her leave the home again, locking her away and keeping guard to be sure the Dog did not return for her.

The seasons changed, winter blew snow over the landscape, the Girl grew weary of waiting.

The Dog, after many had found the Girl and the child she carried, fought long and hard, each day to keep her safe from those that wished her harm. The wounds grew in number, unable to heal as they were torn open time and time again.

The Girl, gaining few supports, had managed to send a letter out for the Dog, expressing her feelings, the loneliness she carried on her shoulders and the desire for him to be there for the birth of their child.

The Dog, after reading the letter, knew he had no other choice than to go. The Girl asked and he would answer, the beast within would have it no other way.

And so, after a battle that tore his body, the Dog departed, intent on reaching the Girl before the birth. The soldiers set to protect the Girl, tried to stop the Dog. But were torn asunder by a powerful fang.

The Girl, thinking to have the trust and faith of her guard, was betrayed by the same man, ran through by the very weapon he defended her with moments after giving birth to her son.

The Dog, hearing the cry of his newborn, tore through the castle in search of the Girl, finding her laying in a pool of her blood.

The Dog, with his shining fang, brought her to life and sent her away as the guard returned to kill her and the Dog.

The Dog, in order to protect the Girl and their child, died, taking the guard with him into the netherworld in order to ensure their safety.

The Girl, without her Dog, grew sad and clung to the child they created together, the ears sitting atop his head a reminder of the one her heart longed for until the day she died, moving to a new life, one without the haunting memory of a Girl and her Dog.

The child, left alone in the world, disappeared from sight, never to be seen again.

"Why the hell would you read such a sad story to me?" Niki scowled at Sonya as the wolf set aside the scroll with a satisfied look on her face.

"Gives you a little glimpse of your own Dog." Shrugging her shoulders, Sonya got to her feet and moved towards the door. "Just think of it this way, every single story you can find in this library, always stem from a true moment in time." With that said, she left the human alone to ponder her words.

"Whatever..." Growling under her breath, Niki picked up the scroll and rolled it up properly to put it away. "Stupid wolf and cryptic stories. What the hell is wrong with this place that just makes everyone want to confuse me all the time."

Still grumbling under her breath, she moved to find the place Sonya had pulled the scroll from, her eyes wandering from self to shelf until she found herself at the back of the library, staring at a large mural across the back wall depicting a large demonic dog soaring across the sky mid-howl.

"Oh..." Blinking in wonder, Niki stepped closer and set the scroll aside on a nearby table, her other hand reaching out to brush across the faded paint.

"My father." Sesshomaru's voice brought her out of her awe sharply, making her jump in surprise. "Oh... So... He can turn into an actual dog?"

Moving to stand beside her, Sesshomaru cut his eyes over to where she stood then stared up at the painting himself. "Full Inu have the ability to become the beast that resides within them."

"Oh, so you too then."

"Indeed."

Biting her lip lightly, Niki glanced at the scroll she just sat aside, nervous to ask, but dying to know. "That story..."

"Is of my Father and Inuyasha's mother." Sesshomaru finished for her, a sharp edge in his voice that quickly vanished. "My Mother... While tending to be... Dramatic. Loved my Father, and Inuyasha's mother. She saw the light in his eyes whenever he was around her, and knew it was for the best."

"Even after all the battles and fights he had to go through just because of the girl?"

"His happiness stemmed from being with one who accepted him for who he was, not for what he represented." Sesshomaru turned away and began walking back to the open door. "The noon meal will be ready soon, your maid will retrieve you to join us."

"Oh, alright then..." Niki murmured, eyes still on the painting in front of her, deep in thought. "See you."

Pausing in the doorway, Sesshomaru sent another look back at the woman, a gleam of curiosity in his eyes before he carefully locked it away. Turning away once more, he left her to her thoughts.

During his many years of life, he had come across people with her way of thinking only a handful of times. He had discovered with them, it would be best to plant an idea, a small thought and allow them to work through it themselves. If they truly were interested, they would search for more answers themselves, if not, they would walk away and leave what they knew at that.

It was the only way he could be certain this strange human truly cared for his father. Even as a human, it was obvious his father cared for her, and he refused to allow her to bring his mighty father down simply by rejecting him.

His father was many things, a fool was one of them. However, Sesshomaru had no desire to see him fall because of his own folly over a single human either.

It would be for the best to make her curious, at least then he knew her thoughts were on the older male. If only that for now, it would be enough.

Closing his eyes in silent frustration, Sesshomaru paused outside of his and Sonya's room. Then again, it wasn't like his mate would have let him out of this either, demanding he help her get the human to become curious about his father, to ask about him and learn without his presence to change things.

Why he let the wolf get away with so much, he did not know. Perhaps it was that way she rubbed his ears, or brushed his hair. It was hard to tell exactly when she asked him to help, but it was obvious she did so while he was distracted. 'Conniving wolves.' With narrowed eyes he stepped into the room and watched as she dug through one of her trunks in search of something.

However it wasn't like he didn't know what he was getting into when he mated her. It was part of what drew him to the wolf in the first place. Holding back a sigh, he set about helping her prepare for the noon meal.

If she had anything to say about it, this visit would feel much longer than it really was.

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