The White Dog
by Becky Tailweaver
Chapter 17: Confusing Morning
Presence. Tingle. Warm. Soft. Familiar.
Something large and alive near her side. Sounds of slow, rhythmic breaths. Something fluttery tickling her hand.
Kagome let her eyes gradually flutter open, pulled into wakefulness by sensations both alien and well-known. She was in her sleeping bag, beneath a familiar ceiling, the gray light of morning peeping in the windows. Kaede's hut...how did I get here?
The large bundle beside her sleeping bag was her answer. Inuyasha, once more dressed in his red kimono, was sound asleep--this time curled up facing her instead of directly against her. What a sweetheart, she thought sleepily. I must have dozed off on the towel. He carried me back and put me to bed...
To bed?
She nearly jumped, then relaxed when she realized she was still wearing her bathing suit. He hadn't felt obligated to go so far as to change her clothes for her.
Relief or disappointment?
She slowly realized the fluttery thing on her hand was Inuyasha, too. His nose rested close to her hand, which lay outside her sleeping bag along her side. Each exhalation puffed against her skin, warm and cool at the same time; each inhalation no doubt carried the full measure of her scent to him. Now that she knew what it was, his breath made goosebumps stand up all the way up her arm.
A slow turn of her head, rustling, gave her a view of the room beyond Inuyasha. A start spun through her when she saw Kaede-baachan sitting opposite the fireplace, watching them serenely. The old miko made no sound, but smiled gently when Kagome's eyes met hers.
Kagome took a deep breath, then sat up, and as she did Inuyasha stirred, his ears pricking up. She didn't want him to wake yet; he was so peaceful when he slept and when he woke up it would go away--without thinking, she touched his head, gently stroking the silky hair between his ears.
By the time she consciously noticed what she was doing, he had calmed, his ears drooping back to restfulness again. She blushed, but continued to slowly pet him to keep him from waking. He sighed contentedly in his sleep, the sound infused with that same soft growl from yesterday.
"All night has he been thus," Kaede said softly. "With you beside him, he sleeps like the dead. He did not stir save for one ear when I arrived late last night."
"He would be so angry if he knew what I was doing," Kagome whispered, red-cheeked. Her hanyou barely twitched at her voice.
Kaede gave her a conspiratory smile. "But still, he enjoys it."
"I guess." Kagome, embarrassed, noted his pleasant expression as he remained sound asleep beside her. And his hair was so smooth and light; washed clean from yesterday, it was white silk, dove's feathers, softness itself. It made her fingers tingle to touch it, to run it between them. His face was so peaceful...almost angelic.
Her gaze focused on the one hand that she could see, emerging from his kimono near his face. It rested flat against the floor, almost touching her sleeping bag--a pale hand, like the rest of him, fine-boned and slim; incongruous when one considered the grip and force that hand was capable of producing.
Four long, thin fingers were surmounted by thick, curved fingernails that formed lethally sharp claws, each one a weapon in itself--sharper than any sword of steel. The distance between knuckles and wrist was just a little longer than it should have been, and the thumb was shorter and set further back; a strange-looking hand in its own way--but again, a part of what made him so unique.
The hand blended smoothly into a strong wrist that flowed up to an arm...that disappeared into his kimono...
Kagome bit her lip and felt her cheeks heatonce again, her mind readily supplying the images of what lay under the kimono. Memories of his slim, strong physique appeared before her eyes like a holographic overlay.
"I...I should get dressed," she quavered to no one in particular, her hand abruptly pulling back from him as though his hair were dangerous. She rose from her sleeping bag and headed for her pack, hoping to get dressed before Inuyasha woke up.
No such luck.
Her sudden movement and the lack of her close presence brought Inuyasha around quite quickly. Blinking and sitting up quickly, he stared at the two women for a minute, somewhere between alarmed and lethargic, looking sleepy and a little bit silly. "Uh...is it morning?" he asked muzzily.
Kagome stared right back at him. He must have been under really deep! I've never seen him look so sleepy... "Of course it's morning, baka. Why else would it be light outside?"
Inuyasha blinked again, beginning to clear the cobwebs from his brain. "Oh..."
Kaede chuckled, stirring the pot of porridge that stood near the fire. "Breakfast, anyone?"
"I'll have some of that, as soon as I'm dressed. Inuyasha?"
"Huh?" The semi-sleepy hanyou missed Kagome's meaningful look entirely; instead, he stared at her, puzzled.
"I'm dressing." Kagome gestured to the clothes she held in one hand. "D'ya mind?"
The hanyou blinked for a third time. "Oh!" He popped up and scuttled over to face the corner away from her. "Sorry..."
"Gee, now he's apologizing!" Kagome said, sounding at the same time amazed and exhasperated. "You're being really feebleminded this morning, Inuyasha."
"I am not--!" He nearly whipped around to yell at her, but halted his knee-jerk response at the last moment and remembered the Wrath of Sit that would fall upon him should he look while she was changing. "I am not feebleminded!"
"I know," Kagome giggled. He couldn't see her expression, to guess whether she was joking or not. He was never sure with women--when did one know to take them at face value or go searching for hidden meanings?
"Can't I tease you a little?" she asked.
"Oh." His response sounded pretty lame, but that was all he could think of to say. Not very creative; it was the third time he'd used it.
"Okay, I'm done. You're safe."
Inuyasha carefully peeked first, just to make sure she wasn't trapping him. When he ascertained that she was sufficiently covered--if a skirt and a short-sleeved blouse was enough--he padded over to the fireplace and sat down beside her. He was a lot closer to her than usual--but didn't even realize it himself.
After breakfast, Kaede stayed to clean up and announced she was going to catalogue her herbs in preparation for the oncoming winter, when coughs, sniffles, and other ailments would increase in the village. Kagome excitedly volunteered to help, which left Inuyasha without company for the morning. He didn't dare stay--he found such things to be frightfully dull and worried that he'd fall asleep in the middle of it and make Kagome mad.
So instead he asked if Kagome felt like having fresh roast for dinner that evening--at which point she gave him an odd look as if wondering what grocery store he intended to pop into. Kaede merely nodded and said that venison sounded nice to her, and would he mind snagging a doe instead of a buck because the bucks had a sour taste this time of year.
Kagome, being the city girl that she was, missed the point of the conversation entirely; Kaede had to explain to her that the inu-hanyou was going to go hunting for them and bring back a deer for their supper. It was a great treat indeed, the miko informed her; not everyone in the village had the time or skill to put fresh meat on the table--and Inuyasha had to depart for the woods early so they'd have adequate time to butcher out the carcass when he returned.
"Oh!" Now it was Kagome's turn to look a little silly. "Well...be careful, I guess." She was surprised--he was going hunting for her again. Well...she wasn't quite sure it was truly for her sake--or merely to get out of helping.
"I'll be quick," he promised, stepping out the door.
Kagome merely watched him with large blue eyes until he was gone.
Inuyasha didn't have time to set foot in the woods before Shirokiba appeared out of nowhere almost on top of him, ambushing him at the outer edge of the rice fields. The wolf-dog youkai was panting and looking a little ragged around the edges, his eyes both wild and focused.
"Shirokiba!" Inuyasha rasped, once his heart rate and breathing were under control--his friend had arrived so quickly that Inuyasha had barely registered his youki before he was there. "What's the matter with you?"
"Did you sleep with Kagome?" the youkai demanded sharply, sniffing at him.
Inuyasha gaped at him. "What?"
Shirokiba's blue-gold eyes were hard and piercing. "You played in the water for hours, you fell asleep besde her on a towel; when she fell asleep and evening came, you carried her into Kaede's hut and did not come out until this morning--and even then you were late. You didn't..." He sniffed again, looking puzzled and alarmed. "Did you?"
Inuyasha's mouth worked for a almost minute. "No!" he finally yelled. "I-I slept with her; I didn't sleep with her."
Shirokiba cocked an eyebrow, puzzled. "I have no idea what you just said."
"I said I didn't sleep with her!"
"But you just said you did--and her scent's all over you."
"Yes! No! I mean--it's not that scent--!"
"You're being confusing. I thought you said--"
"I said nothing happened!"
Shirokiba actually growled at him, shutting his mouth in a trice. "Let me be more specific: You did not mate with her?"
"No!" Inuyasha snarled, his face bright red.
For a minute they stood and glared at each other.
Finally, Shirokiba relaxed with an exasperated sigh. "Thank you for clearing that up. Now you can go talk Ginnezu out of the jealous rage she's worked herself into before she does something we'll all regret."
"What's the matter with her?"
"Go find out," Shirokiba replied with a shrug. "I've babysat that petulant little she-Dog all night, keeping her from busting in on you because she and I both thought you and Kagome were...busy."
"Keh--you're such a moron!" Inuyasha growled. "Kaede-babaa was there the whole time!"
"How would I know? I didn't see any of that!" Shirokiba shot back. "I already had an insane Silver Lady on my hands when you didn't come out after an hour and a half. I've been dashing through the woods since moonrise last night, tailing her around!"
"Couldn't you hear the silence, idiot?"
"Not with her whining in my ear--and she's still whining and undoubtedly plotting murder."
Inuyasha sighed with a bit of a growl. "Fine...fine...where is she?
"Down by the river near the place where you and Kagome swam. She took it hard."
"Stupid wench."
"Watch it, mutt--that's a Lady of the Silver Clan you're talking about. In the wrong company, words like that'll get you killed."
"Why the hell should I care? If all this lineage shit is important, it doesn't matter who she is--I'm White." Inuyasha fixed his companion with a glare. "You were watching yesterday, weren't you?"
Shirokiba shrugged. "I spotted her trying to lose the monk and the kitsune in the woods, so I looped around and got there first. I set up camp downwind across the river where I could see everything."
Inuyasha flushed. "You saw everything?"
"Yup." The wolf-dog looked positively smug. "All those cute little splash-and-dive games you were playing with Kagome...really, it was quite sweet."
"Shirokiba..." Inuyasha growled threateningly. "If you mention one word to anyone else about this, I will personally kill you."
"Hey, my lips are sealed--but no guarantees about Ginnezu. She's in a serious fit right now."
"That little bitch needs to catch a clue."
"No kidding--and you're the one who needs to throw it to her."
"Keh. Keep an eye on Kagome, will you?" Still growling, Inuyasha dropped to all fours and headed for the river, leaving Shirokiba standing angrily behind him.
"You silly mutt," the wolf-dog grumbled. "I don't need another babysitting job."
Ginnezu was crouched calmly and serenely by the water's edge, nothing like the raging, screeching female inu-youkai that Shirokiba had dealt with all night. When Inuyasha approached her, he expected a crying, begging woman to throw herself at his feet and howl about her true love and devotion and other such tripe.
He didn't expect her to completely ignore him.
So he stood behind her, warily, waiting for her to acknowledge him. He gazed at her back, at her light silvery tail lying straight out behind her. As he watched her, he found himself uncomfortably recalling the events of yesterday afternoon--especially her rude interruption of his swim with Kagome.
Strangely, the image that most dominated his mind was the one of her striding out of the water after he'd yelled at her, just as calm and serene as she was now. He remembered how his eyes had focused on the dark, black-gray, tigerlike stripes that graced her thinly-furred ribs, upper arms, and thighs in distinct groups of three.
He also remembered how he thought those stripes looked familiar to him--but from where? And he remembered how Shirokiba's words had echoed through his mind--the words about Dogs with impure colors having tainted bloodlines.
So, Ginnezu...you're not as perfect as you'd like us to think, he thought grimly, still staring at her back. The very tip of her tail twitched once.
"Ginnezu, what the hell is your problem?" he growled, feeling that he'd waited more than long enough.
"I have no problem, my Lord."
"Bullshit. Shirokiba told me you've been making an ass of yourself all night. I want to know what the deal is--because I really think that what's between me and Kagome is none of your business."
Ginnezu still did not look at him. Her posture did not shift, and her voice was controlled and even. "I admit to some jealousy, Inuyasha-sama. However, it is your choice and yours alone to mate with the human female."
"Nothing happened, Ginnezu," Inuyasha snarled warningly. "Kagome isn't that kind of girl."
"I apologize. I must say I " Ginnezu frantically hid her smile--he wasn't committed to the human yet!
Inuyasha snorted. "Hell yeah--you've already made it abundantly clear you're supposedly in love with me. Which is a load of crock if I ever heard it."
For the first time, Ginnezu whirled--and Inuyasha could see tears welling up in her eyes. "My Lord, I--!" She swallowed, then composed herself. "Inuyasha-sama...I am in love with you. I have been since I first laid eyes on you."
"And when would that be?" Inuyasha sneered. "When you came openly to the village--or when you were following us around trying to spy on me?"
"Yes...I did follow you for a time. And I began to fall for you from the first moment." Ginnezu stood up to face him, remaining composed despte her tears. "It was I who came after you into the caves and killed the rats that would have slaughtered your friends. It was I who dug out most of the rockfall to let you escape when your companions arrived. It was I who used my own teeth and claws to pull Karasuhebi away from your little boomerang-throwing friend in the middle of that fight."
"And how did you do all this without either Kagome or I sensing you? Or even scenting you?" Inuyasha demanded.
"I have my Amulet..."
"I guess that lets you be pretty sneaky, huh? Sneaky enough to try tricks to get Kagome and I to hate each other? I've been wondering--Kagome would never have left that book out; she wasn't even reading it the night before..."
Ginnezu's eyes snapped up to his. "My Lord--"
"Save it. I know you're not the little innocent you make yourself out to be. You're youkai, Ginnezu, and that makes you capable of anything in my book. That's why I don't believe you love me--youkai don't love."
Ginnezu nearly bristled and snarled at him--at that awful accusation--but she marshalled her willpower and managed to look hurt and stung instead. "Inuyasha-sama, how can you say that? I can love! I love you!"
Inuyasha didn't bat an eye. "You can also lie."
"My Lord..." She allowed tears to leak from her eyes. Her voice grew shrill with emotion. "My Lord, I am telling the truth! You say youkai are unable to love, but I tell you this--humans are the ones who cannot love! They are weak, stupid cattle who care only for themselves! Nothing more than animals--all they want is to live another day with a full belly! Do you think that pretty little female you keep with you truly loves you? She only wants the security of being close to you--you protect her from the youkai humans fear, so she stays beside you! She cannot appreciate who you are--she cannot love you! Not like I do!"
Inuyasha snarled, nearly blurting out that dammit, he did know Kagome loved him and she'd said it with her own lips. "How dare you say that about Kagome? She's faced death for me too many times to count! You know nothing about humans!"
Ginnezu abruptly subsided, startling him. "I suppose you're right, my Lord." But I've planted the idea...haven't I? I'll put fear and doubt into him...and soon he'll hate that little wench.
"I don't really care what you think, Ginnezu," Inuyasha growled. "Neither you or your damn Dog Clans are going to decide what I do with my life, so stay out of it." Damn, she switches around so fast it's confusing. One minute she's furious, the next she's contrite. What's up with her?
Ginnezu bowed her head. "I am sorry, my Lord, but I have a duty to my father's clan, and to the Dog Clans, and I intend to see it carried out."
Inuyasha stepped close to her, pinning her dark amber gaze with his piercing golden one. "Listen to me, bitch--I am not bound by your stupid Clans or laws to do anything, no matter what any of you say. And even if I do choose to come back, I will not marry you. Do you understand? I will not marry you. Ever."
Ginnezu gaped at him, stung and insulted--covering it quickly with remorse and concern. "My Lord---what about your father's will? Do you hate him so much that you would throw away his duty to the Clans--the peace and unity of your people? Everything he worked for all his life?"
Inuyasha flinched faintly, his voice cracking almost unnoticeably. "Oyaji died years ago and left me alone with my asshole of a half-brother. Why should I care about him?"
"I...I see." Ginnezu sighed, then stepped back from him, turning to the water. "I apologize for what took place yesterday, Inuyasha-sama. I am...entering my fertile season and sometimes I am...emotional. I did not mean to make you uncomfortable."
"It was damn indecent, Ginnezu," Inuyasha growled. So that's why she smells so...enticing--she's coming into heat. This is bad... He was glad she couldn't see his blush. "It isn't proper for a naked woman to jump on a man--especially in the presence of others." Hell, I sound like my mother!
Ginnezu actually giggled. "Ah, I suppose you are not used to the way inu-youkai do things, being raised by humans as you were. We do not wear useless clothing when we bathe and swim. What would be the point?"
Inuyasha wasn't sure if she was covertly insulting him or not, with her "raised by humans" comment, so he remained silent. But her statement made uncomfortable images arise in his head; inu-youkai wore nothing when they bathed and swam--and Kagome sometimes...
Nope--don't even go there, idiot, he berated himself. Now's not the time for useless fantasies that will never come true.
"My Lord," Ginnezu continued. "I know that...many of my actions have driven you away from me. But...I truly do love you. And...even if there is no chance that you would love me in return...I hope you might at least regard me as a friend. I have your best interests at heart--really, I do. But...I cannot leave until I see my duty done."
Inuyasha eyed her warily. "And what might that be?"
"I have told you."
He gazed at her back for a while. "You've promised not to harm any of my friends or the people in this village," he stated, his voice low and tense. "Does your word still hold true?"
Ginnezu looked at him over her shoulder. "I do not lie, Inuyasha-sama, especially when I have sworn on my family's honor. Your little female is safe." She returned her gaze to the river.
Inuyasha still had one more pressing thought on his mind, and after a few moments he spoke. "Ginnezu...it's only a week until the full moon. Is what you said about your Amulet true?"
"Perhaps. I have never tried."
Inuyasha stewed for a while. He didn't dare talk to Kagome about this--she'd be upset if she knew he was thinking about it. "If...if it works...I would be willing to go with you to the Howl-Gathering."
Yes! Ginnezu was glad her back was to him--it hid her involuntary dark, eager smile. Got him hooked, now to reel him in... "I am glad, Inuyasha-sama," she replied, keeping her voice carefully under control. "Can you acquire a shard of the Shikon no Tama on that night?"
"I can."
Ginnezu said nothing, but merely smiled out at the water. The last-resort trick worked...
"Nothing strange had better happen, Ginnezu," Inuyasha warned with a growl, "or your head will be the first to roll."
The female youkai did not reply. Inuyasha watched her for a little while longer, then turned and headed back into the woods with a snarl.
Ginnezu stood still for a long time, her smile broadening into a wide, fanged grin. I knew the temptation would be too much! He's mine now!