The White Dog
by Becky Tailweaver
Chapter 23: Trouble Brewing
Shirokiba just watched Inuyasha for a while, observing the young hanyou's activities with the gentle gaze of a parent. Inuyasha had taken out the doe skin, so carefully hidden from his previous hunt, and brought it into the forest, where he was trying to use the rusty edge of Tetsusaiga to flesh the hide--scraping bits of fat and membrane from the skin side of the pelt in an attempt to clean it for tanning.
The wolf-dog watched in amusement for a few more minutes before taking pity on the little mutt and approaching with the tool he'd brought back with him.
"I thought that's what you were doing, running off with that hide," Shirokiba said wryly. "You might have better luck if you use this, and put the pelt on a round log."
Inuyasha looked up, frustrated, then focused on the two-handled fleshing blade that Shirokiba offered. "Oh," he said lamely, staring at it as if it were something he'd never seen before. "Thanks."
He hefted the new tool aside, then cleaned the Tetsusaiga and sheathed it. When his beloved sword was safely away, he picked up the fleshing tool and the hide and headed off to look for a fallen log to use.
Shirokiba followed him. "I take it you didn't sleep well last night, huh?"
Inuyasha regarded him through red-rimmed eyes. "Give the wolf-dog a prize," he muttered crankily.
"Sorry. Did you have nightmares again?"
"I didn't sleep at all--how the hell am I supposed to have nightmares?" Inuyasha plopped down on the first fallen log he found--a nice large one, too; a good size for the deer skin. Spreading the pelt on the log, he inspected the fleshing blade before deciding on an angle of attack--and once again, he began to scrape the skin clean of waste.
Shirokiba delicately decided to continue the conversation. "So...what are you doing, exactly?"
"None of your business."
"Well, excuse me! I just never saw you as being very domestic--and here you are doing women's work."
"Shut up. I don't want anyone else to do this." The tired hanyou's tone was dull, but strong.
Shirokiba drew back and crossed his arms. "Are you sure you know what you're doing?"
"I asked around. Don't worry about it."
"Ah." Somehow, Shirokiba didn't really feel too confident about that, but if the boy insisted, well...who was he to judge? The deer was his kill, anyway. "Okay, mutt. But...try to get some sleep, would you? Take a nap this afternoon or something. I'm going to head south and try to pick up Kouga's trail--see if I can't intercept him before he comes to bother you."
"Whatever."
Shirokiba trotted off, shaking his head. Hell, he must be tired. He's being pretty damn antisocial, even for him. Maybe he does need Kagome to visit in the afternoons.
"Kagome! Kagome, over here!"
"Hi, Yukari!" Kagome greeted, rushing up to her small group of friends. "Good morning, all of you! How's it been? What did I miss?"
"Nothing but Tanaka-sensei's ultra-boring Sengoku Jidai history section," Yukari replied.
"Oh, yeah," Kagome agreed quickly. Only you guys don't know how exciting the Warring States period really is!
The schoolyard was full of bustling students hurrying in for their first classes of the morning. Kagome and her friends gathered just outside the front doors, giggling and greeting; they were all quite happy to see Kagome after more than a week's worth of absence, and she felt rejuvenated and ready to face a day of school.
"So you finally got over the Mexican Flu, huh, Kagome?" Keiko asked, smiling brightly.
Kagome's grin faltered for less than a second, but she picked up the cue and nodded quickly. "Yup. I'm all better now--and don't worry, it's not contagious any more! I was sick so bad, too--you just wouldn't believe it."
"Oh, don't worry," Yukari assured her with an understanding pat on the shoulder. "Your grandfather told us all about it."
"Did he now?" Kagome said, with a good attempt at a fake smile. I swear I'm going to throttle that old man someday.
"Higurashi?"
Kagome whirled, startled. "Hojo-kun!"
"Hello," the tall boy greeted sweetly, smiling in his usual pleasant way. "I'm glad to hear you're feeling better. I had these for you, but your grandfather wouldn't let me give them to you. I suppose since you're better you won't need them, but...I guess you can keep them for next time you don't feel well." He handed her a small package.
Kagome peeked into the bag, spotting packets of healing herbal teas. "Oh...no problem. Thank you, Hojo-kun--this is very sweet of you."
"Uh...Higurashi..." Hojo began nervously. "By the way, um...would you...?"
"Oh! I'm sorry--look at the time! I'd better get to my first class. I'll see you around, Hojo-kun! Thanks for the gifts!" Kagome smiled brightly and waved at him before scuttling off after her friends.
Hojo sighed, gazing admiringly after her. "Such a wonderful girl. She's so devoted to her schoolwork, even though she's always in such poor health. I'll just have to ask her out later." With another lovelorn sigh, the cheerful boy hitched up his backpack and entered the school building.
Inuyasha was just about through with scraping half of the deerskin when he smelled Ginnezu.
A few seconds later, he heard her coming by behind him. With a stony frown, he determined to ignore her; she was just passing by, anyway--and she'd better not bother him, either, if she wanted to keep her head where it belonged.
Her footsteps stopped about ten feet behind him. He scowled, rolling his eyes in annoyance as he continued to scrape the hide. Just keep moving, Ginnezu. Don't even try.
He heard her shift her weight, and take a breath, her heartbeat quickening.
"Inuyasha-samaaa..."
Something in her voice made his spine go rigid and his hackles stand on end.
Shirokiba had no trouble locating Kouga's trail from the previous evening; the young Wolf had taken a straight path south toward one of the major rivers in that direction. He didn't think he'd missed his younger brother's return trip, even as broad as the forest was, but he didn't want to pass him by; he had to be sure that Inuyasha and Kouga didn't get into a major fight.
What a couple of hotheaded pups, he mused to himself while tracking. Bristling and snapping over that girl like she's the last bone in the den. I don't understand why Kouga's so set on having a human, anyway. Kagome's not such a bad girl--it's just that she's...well, human. Inuyasha I can understand--but Kouga? What on Earth put the idea into his head to...?
Shirokiba froze mid-thought, his nose twitching. A smell had begun to pervade this part of the woods--a thick, musky smell that meant only one thing.
Inu-youkai, and lots of them.
Shirokiba's lip lifted unconsciously. What are they doing out here, so far from the Clan territories? Five or six, at least...big ones, too--Blacks or Grays.
He knelt beside a faint footprint in the duff--a footprint he could have crouched in, roughly a meter in diameter. Cautiously, he advanced further, not liking the fact that some very big inu-youkai might be lurking close by.
What the hell could they be doing here? Helping Ginnezu to take Inuyasha? Keeping an eye on Ginnezu herself? Or just operating under their own Daimyo's orders? Hmm...if they're helping Ginnezu, they can't be Grays--Grays hate the Silvers, so it would have to be the Blacks. But...if they're here to screw up Ginnezu's plans, then it would have to be the Grays--and them I can talk to.
Another scent suddenly drifted to him over the faint breeze through the trees--a scent that made his hackles raise.
Blood.
The scent was frighteningly thick--which meant there was a lot of blood.
Blood that was many hours old--someone had been killed by the Dogs last night.
Someone whose blood smelled just like...Wolf.
Kouga!
Shirokiba's blue-gold eyes went wide, and he dashed blindly through the woods toward the source of the blood-scent. It grew stronger and thicker as he went, rank with fear and pain, choking him with panic. Too much blood--too much blood!
"Kouga!" he roared through the forest, not caring who might hear. "Kouga, answer me now! It's me! Kouga!"
He rounded a tree and crested a small hillock in the woods, coming to a tiny clearing. The stench of blood was heavy in the air--and a too-familiar figure was sprawled there on the grass, gray-brown fur soaked crimson; the ground around him was smeared red with blood, so thick that the earth there had turned to mud.
The still form did not move.
"Kouga!" Shirokiba bounded down the hill, panting with the effort of his headlong sprint through the woods. "Kouga!"
With a small stir, the young Wolf managed to raise his head with a pained grimace. "Shirokiba...Aniki..."
"You're alive! Kami-sama..."
"Bastards...they..." Kouga grunted with an effort.
"Shh, it's okay." The wolf-dog took the younger youkai's torn body in his arms ever so gently, as if he would break. "I've got you now, Otouto...take it easy...I'll get you back to Kaede-san's place--she's a healer."
"Aniki...the Dogs..." Kouga tried again, before passing out once more.
"Kouga?" Shirokiba's brow creased with worry--and with anger.
For a moment, he glared at the woods around him, daring any of the Dogs to show themselves, vowing he would slaughter any of them--though he knew in his heart he would be hard-pressed at his very best to defeat even a Black Dog. But his challenging eyes received no reply.
You bastards, this time you've gone too far! I don't care if you kick me around for being a half-breed, but damn you...you brought my little brother into this! He's not even a Dog, you selfish, conniving--!
Shirokiba snarled aloud many of his thoughts becoming highly unrepeatable. When I find the rat-faced, yellow-bellied bastard responsible for this...I'm going to rip his guts out and feed them to him! Then I'm going to tear his heart out and make him watch me eat it! I swear...those Dogs...!
His low rumble reverberated through the clearing, a dangerous warning to any trespassers nearby. But without another moment of hesitation, Shirokiba began to run frantically back to the village, cradling his younger half-brother's battered body in his arms.
Inuyasha sat up straight and absolutely still at the sound of Ginnezu's voice. It annoyed and disturbed him so much that his hackles bristled from his lower back all the way up his neck, prickling against his clothing. Even his ears felt tingly as he turned them back to track her every move.
"Ginnezu, if you take one more step toward me...I promise you won't live to regret it," he growled softly, his voice cold, gravelly, and dangerous. He was tired, irritaed, cranky, and in no mood to deal with her shit. "And if you so much as speak one more word in that manner, I'm going to take your vocal cords out--along with the rest of your throat. Go away."
"I-I-I'm terribly sorry, Inuyasha-sama," Ginnezu squeaked contritely, taken aback by his icy tones. Very hastily, she tried to cover her tracks. There was something about him today that said, You bother, you die--and for once, she actually believed it. He was apparently still upset at her for her previous...boldness. "I was, ah, only coming to see if you had accquired a shard of the Shikon no Tama yet." Damn it, I'll have to wait on this one...
"Hmph. No, I haven't," the hanyou replied evenly. "Piss off. I'll find you when I have a shard. Don't bother me."
"Hai, Inuyasha-sama!" she yelped--and without another word, Ginnezu's footsteps pattered rapidly away.
With a smirk, Inuyasha slowly relaxed. Shortly, he peeked over his shoulder to reassure himself that she was gone. For some reason, running her off like that had rejuvenated him a little.
"Well, whaddaya know, I scared her." He smirked again with a short, barking laugh. "I ought to do that more often--it was kinda fun."
A desperate sound suddenly echoed through the woods, reverberating between the trees and jolting Inuyasha to alertness. It took him a startled second, but he quickly registered the noise as a Wolf's howl. Quickly, he deciphered the meaning of the pitch and tone.
::Dogs--trouble--hurt--hurry!:: he realized. His eyes widened. "Shirokiba!"
Leaving the deerskin behind, he burst off the log, pelting toward the source of the howl. Something had happened--something bad, if Shirokiba was willing to shout out his presence to everyone in the middle of the woods. Had inu-youkai attacked him?
The howl sounded again, this time closer to the village. ::Wounded--coming--prepare!:: he translated quickly. The wolf-dog was rapidly on his way to the village--but if that was the case, how badly hurt could he be?
Inuyasha flew out of the trees at full stride, streaking across the fields like a red and white comet. He heard Shirokiba howl out the same pattern again, and veered his course toward the treeline south of the village.
He heaved a sigh of relief when Shirokiba emerged hale and healthy, hurrying across the field. However, he carried in his arms...
Kouga? Injured? he wondered briefly, before pulling alongside the hurrying wolf-dog. "What the hell happened to him?" he called out.
"Dogs attacked!" Shirokiba replied sharply, breathlessly. "Run ahead and tell Kaede-san to get ready to help!"
"Right!" As a child, Inuyasha had never questioned his mentor's orders in times of trouble--and he wasn't about to start now. Rivalry with Kouga was one thing, but now he knew that the Wolf was Shirokiba's brother--and in his condition, there was no room for petty argument.
Putting on another burst of speed, Inuyasha bolted ahead toward Kaede's hut.
Kagome sighed, leaned back at her desk, and tried not to yawn. After spending so much time with Inuyasha, being back in her own world and her own routine seemed...indescribably dull. After all the excitement of the past couple weeks, her own normal little life in the modern era was really rather boring.
The teacher's voice droned on until the bell rang for lunch, and as soon as class was out, Kagome hurried to meet with her friends to picnic outdoors. The air was warm and fresh in the schoolyard, barely hinting at the crispness that would come in the autumn even in the afternoon.
Keiko and Yukari greeted her from beneath a tree where they waited with their lunchboxes.
"Hi guys!" Kagome said breathlessly as she trotted up. "How was your class?"
"Oh, as entertaining as ever," Yukari replied. "The math teacher's lectures are always such a drag."
"Just like today," Keiko agreed as the three set out their lunches and dug in.
"I didn't have time to worry about how exciting class was," Kagome said, sighing in resignation. "I have so much make-up work to do it's not even funny."
"You poor girl," Keiko said sympathetically. "Well, if you need any help studying, you be sure to call me."
"Oh, yeah, Miss Study Queen here will be a big help," Yukari joked.
"So I'm not a genius like you!" Keiko retorted, miffed. "Just because I got a C on my spelling test doesn't mean--"
"Please, please, don't fight on my account," Kagome pleaded, waving a hand between the two of them. "I'll be glad for any help from either of you--"
A noise behind her startled her, and a faint, strange sensation made her shiver.
"Uh, excuse me..." The three schoolgirls started at the soft male voice that hailed them. "Would any of you happen to have a little extra change? I'm a couple coins short to buy a meal at the cafeteria."
Kagome turned around to see a tall boy with unruly auburn hair and soft blue eyes standing over her. He had pale features and a gentle smile as he gazed imploringly at them--but his face was...disconcertingly familiar, somehow.
"Oh! Tomogaki-kun, are you broke again?" Yukari demanded, almost exasperated. "Jeeze, you're always a couple coins short."
Keiko laughed as well. "Yeah--can't you count your piggy bank better?"
The boy put a hand behind his head and laughed embarassedly. "I guess not. Sorry."
Yukari gasped, remembering their friend. "Oh! I'm sorry, Kagome. This is Tomogaki Kobi. He just moved here this summer and he's in my class this year."
Tomogaki-kun bowed politely. "You must be Higurashi Kagome. Yukari and Keiko talk about you sometimes." He smiled disarmingly. "I hear you're unwell a lot."
"Uh...uh...yeah..." Kagome agreed quickly, still staring at him, even as he sat down beside Yukari and smiled again. As the two girls began to converse with him, she gazed at him carefully. She was certain she had to have seen him around campus before--that must be why he looked familiar. He was in her friends' class, after all.
And why did he keep looking at her like that? Even though he was talking and joking with Keiko and Yukari, his eyes kept flicking back to her, something...longing? Imploring?...in his gaze. Like he knew her somehow. Like he was begging her to recognize him...or say something to him...or...something...
"Hey, Tomogaki!" called a rough, surly voice. "If those gals have spare change for you, hows about they share some with me, too?"
Tomogaki-kun suddenly winced. "Oy...he followed me."
Yukari and Keiko rolled their eyes, even as Kagome turned to look at yet another newcomer--and gasp.
For a mind-numbing moment she thought it was Inuyasha walking up to her, in his human form wearing a boys' uniform. His posture, stride, expression, and voice matched her hanyou's typically abraisive moods.
But then the more logical part of her brain took over and she realized that this was just the school tough she'd heard about, the one who was also in Keiko and Yukari's class--when he decided to show up.
He didn't look much like Inuyasha at all--what had made her think he did? He had black hair and a surly expression, but his eyes were dark brown, his hair was short and slicked back, and his face was completely different--his nose was rather puggish and his cheekbones were too round.
Kagome shook her head--it was probably the fact that he shared Inuyasha's attitude that was making her think like this.
"Nikumarekko Akudou," Yukari said disdainfully, as the bigger boy plopped down near Tomogaki-kun. "What made you decide to grace us with your presence?"
"Hey, where there's handouts..." he said with a shrug. "My buddy Tomogaki here is good at kissin' up to you ladies, ain't he?"
Tomogaki-kun gracefully plucked Nikumarekko's arm from his shoulders. "Look, Nikumarekko-san, I'm only your study partner because I have to be--and I'm certainly not your 'buddy.' I'm asking a favor of these girls, not a handout."
Kagome stared at Tomogaki-kun once again. The auburn-haired boy's entire demeanor had changed from shy hesitance to a firm, quiet confidence she'd rarely seen in a teenager. Apparenly it worked; Nikumarekko backed off and left him alone.
"Hey, ladies, how's about a couple extra snacks? Got anything you don't want?"
"Not a chance, Nikumarekko," Keiko replied succinctly.
"Go beg food elsewhere, loser," Yukari added, turning away.
"Whoa, talk about ice princesses. Jeeze." Nikumarekko certainly didn't waste his time where he wasn't wanted. Instead, he turned his attention to Kagome. "Hey, ain't you the chick who lives at that little shrine on the hill? Sunrise or Sunset or somethin' like that?" he asked, his roughly handsome face twisting into a rakish grin. "You're pretty cute for a miko."
Kagome blushed suddenly at his unexpected compliment. "Uh...thanks, Nikumarekko-kun, but...I'm not exactly a miko..." she stammered.
Nikumarekko laughed. "Hey, okay. You're pretty cute, period. And call me Akudou--sounds too formal otherwise."
"Nikumarekko," Kobi said sternly, warningly.
"You wouldn't happen to have a spare tidbit for a starving fella, would you?" His dark eyes shone imploringly, but though his mouth didn't quite smile, there were edges of mirth in his expression.
Kagome shyly offered him a pickle, quite at a loss. For what she'd heard of him, he was a lot nicer than she'd expected. His handsome roughness made her think of what Inuyasha would be like if he were bit more nice.
"Thanks," he said, taking the pickle with an obeisant, almost mocking bow. "I owe ya one, cutie."
The three others rolled their eyes.
"Well, I ain't gonna stick around here with losers like you," Akudou-kun sighed, glaring at them. "I gotta scoot."
"Please do," Tomogaki-kun drawled.
Akudou-kun stood and dusted himself off, then winked boldly at Kagome. "I'll see ya sometime, cutie--when you ain't got this dull crew hangin' around. Later!"
The others merely shook their heads when he was gone, but Kagome was left blushing and staring after him, mouth still open.
"Whoa, don't even think about it, girl," Yukari cautioned, seeing her expression. "He's very bad news."
"I would be careful around him, Higurashi," Tomogaki-kun cautioned, once again a shy, hesitant, respectful fellow that vaguely reminded her of Hojo--though far less bumbling. "He's something of a major troublemaker, and very much known for his habits with girls."
"I--I know!" Kagome said defensively, coming back to herself. "He just...reminds me of someone."
"That violent two-timing boyfriend of yours you keep pining over?" Yukari teased.
"Yukari!" Kagome blushed again.
The two girls giggled, while Tomogaki-kun gazed at her wistfully once more.
Finally, Keiko took pity on him, reaching into her pocket and pulling out a few coins. "Here you go, you poor beggar, you," she said with a giggle, putting the change into his hands. "Go get something to eat before you waste away."
"Huh? Oh!" Tomogaki-kun shook himself. "Thanks. I'll, uh, pay you back when I get some allowance or something."
"Sure you will," Yukari laughed.
"Stay out of trouble," Keiko told him.
"I promise. Bye!" Tomogaki-kun got up and trotted off toward the cafeteria, only looking back at Kagome once. When he was out of earshot, Keiko and Yukari turned to Kagome.
"Do you know him or something?" Keiko asked.
"No!" Kagome replied quickly. "I've never seen him--well, I mean, I've never met him before."
"Oooh, I think Kobi-chan is in looove," Yukari cooed. "Did you see the way he was staring at you?"
"Um..."
Keiko giggled as well. "Yeah, Kagome--he was totally enraptured. I've never seen him that way about a girl. Now I'm jealous."
"You know, Kagome, if he's interested, you could go with him instead of Hojo-kun," Yukari commented. "I mean, Hojo-kun's sweet--and he's cute, too--but he's just not the brightest bulb in the chandelier. Kobi-kun's sweet too, and I think he's cuter than Hojo, but he's also smart."
"Uh...yeah," Kagome agreed, a little embarrassed. Yeah, just what I need--a boyfriend who's smart. It's hard enough keeping my secret from Hojo-kun and my friends--what if I date someone who's really on the ball? He'd find out about the well for sure! "I don't know if I'm...really interested in dating."
"Well, we know that," Keiko said.
"It's kind of obvious," Yukari added, "by the way you keep putting poor Hojo-kun off."
Kagome blushed. "Sorry."
"It's okay, girlfriend," Yukari said, patting her shoulder. "I can remember when I was boy-shy, too."
"Were you ever boy-shy?" Keiko interjected slyly.
"Keiko!" Yukari all but screeched.
Kagome laughed aloud as her friends squabbled. Why was she worried about boy troubles again? She really didn't need a date.
It was good to be back among her modern friends. At least here she was safe and understood--no monsters and youkai threatened. The most looming terror ahead was the history test she hadn't studied for--but hey, the test was on the Sengoku Jidai! If anyone knew anything about that time, she sure did. No problem!
Right?