The White Dog
by Becky Tailweaver
Chapter 28: An Earnest Plea
The burning sunset painted the horizon in beautiful, fiery tones as Inuyasha ran through the woods for all he was worth, following a laughing, leaping silvery shadow. The western sky ahead of him shone brilliant orange and fading yellow, while the cooling clouds behind dimmed to soft violet as the sun began to touch the hills. Soon, the fire would drain away with the sun, and the indigo blanket of twilight would surge westward like a tide, cloaking the sky in moonlit night.
Inuyasha loped swiftly along, his eyes locked on the half-flying, half-bounding figure ahead. He was only just beginning to run--but if he remembered correctly, the heart of the Western Lands was still far, far away from here.
But he couldn't go back--not now, not yet.
The stolen Shikon shard seemed to burn against his skin, even though it was wrapped in a ragged bit of silk, then in a small linen bag, and then secured safely inside his inner robe. He could still feel it glimmering, pulsing there--seducing and accusing him, beckoning and reviling him. He'd dared not touch it for long, fearing the stain of his youki would blacken it--and if Ginnezu was true to her word, he'd be tainting it more than enough later on
Part of him wondered why he had not asked Kagome for permission to use a shard--wondered why he'd kept all of this Full Moon Howl-Gathering a secret from her.
Why is it any of her business what I do? It's not like she owns me, his ego retorted with a snort as he ran. I'm a hanyou--I go where I damn well please. And if I want to go be with other youkai--well, dammit, she's just gonna have to live with it.
Then why, oh why did he feel so guilty for his subterfuge?
"Oi, Silver bitch!" he called gruffly between pants, forcefully tearing his mind away from the subject of Kagome. "Just how long...until we reach...the damn place?"
Ginnezu slowed down to bound at his side, deerlike, with a cute-eyed smile. "I'm not sure, my Lord. At this slow pace, I doubt we would make it before moonrise."
"Hrrrrr..." he grumbled. And at this pace, I'll wear out long before then. I may be half youkai-- He frowned and snarled at the thought of his limitations. --but even I can't run that far in a night.
"Inuyasha-sama, perhaps..." Ginnezu began shyly, "...perhaps I might carry you there. I can transform, and I would be proud to--"
"What--?" Inuyasha stopped so abruptly that Ginnezu overtook him by several yards. By the time she skidded to a halt, the hanyou was already back on two feet and glaring hard at her, his expression incredulous--and suspicious. "What the hell? No inu-youkai would ever--!"
Ginnezu blinked at him, then laughed. "Oh, don't be silly, Inuyasha-sama!" she giggled, waving a dismissive hand at him. "I wouldn't mind at all. I'd be honored if you would allow me to bear you quickly to our destination. And my Lord...I can run so much faster than you that way..."
Inuyasha scowled at her, weighing it in his mind, trying to decide if he wanted to risk allowing her the opportunity to transform into her true shape--and if he wanted to be that close to her when she did. But she did say she could get them there faster. "No tricks, bitch? None of your wily games?"
"Oh, Inuyasha-sama, I wouldn't dream of it!" she insisted sweetly, hiding the gleam in her eye. "Tonight is far too important for that sort of nonsense. All of the Clans will finally get to meet the long-awaited heir of Seibunishi-sama!" Tonight is very important...it might be my last and only chance...
One of his ears twitched. "Fine, Ginnezu--you can do it. But I'm warning you--one bit of trouble from you and I'll tear you apart, true form or no...true...form..."
He broke off, eyes growing wide and surprised; she was already transforming, growing larger and more glisteningly silver with each passing second. He stumbled back several steps to get clear, jaw hanging slack as the more logical portion of his mind wondered if it had been a good idea to let her do this.
She was huge! Not near as big as Sesshomaru--but still, large and frighteningly imposing in the fire-bath the sunset brought. She stood a span shorter than his elder half-brother, and lacked his slim, refined profile; her muzzle was blockier, her legs shorter, her body rounder--but she had the same silky fur, soft ears, and long, bushy tail. The thunder-gray stripes on her legs and flanks were there--the same as they had been when she'd accosted him at the river.
He found himself gulping, wary, and stubbornly held his ground--on-guard, since he didn't know what she might do next. But her eyes remained the same dark amber--not changing to the glowing blood-red of battle rage.
A short, questioning bark brought him back to his senses; he shook himself and looked into those eyes, seeing the same cute-but-crafty Ginnezu behind them. He'd have to watch her every second--Shirokiba's warning still rang in his mind, and he was taking no chances.
Still...he wondered yet again if it had been a good idea to leave the Tetsusaiga behind with Kaede. Even if Ginnezu had said the other youkai wouldn't react well to the deadly weapon, having it at his side in times like these would work wonders for his confidence--not to mention it would make it a lot easier to kill a giant inu-youkai if he had to.
"Alright, alright, I'm coming," he grumbled, striding cautiously over to her and making the easy leap to her lowered shoulders. "Watch it, bitch--I'm in a real good place to take your head off right here if you pull anything."
Ginnezu snorted at that, with a light, airy bark as she rose to her full height, and Inuyasha gripped the pale silvery fur as he felt the massive muscles pull and bunch beneath him. She leaped into motion, traveling as only a full-blood inu-youkai could, covering dozens of yards with every powerful bound--and Inuyasha clung tight as she picked up speed, leaping through the night.
With every giant leap, every increasing stride, the wind roared in his ears and the world rushed by in a dizzying blur of sunset sky and shadowed treetops. It was almost like really flying--and for a moment, just a moment, he envied her.
But then the moment passed--and they continued hurrying westward.
With an enormous effort, Kagome finally hauled herself over the lip of the well--scratched, tired, dirty, and dearly wishing Inuyasha was there to help her out. There was no ladder on this "side" of the well's time portal, and without Inuyasha it was an arduous climb to reach the opening. Heaving a sigh, she stepped to the grass beside the well and sat against the edge to catch her heaving breath.
She didn't rest long, however. Finding Inuyasha was still the first priority in her mind. Even though he had told her about the dangerous Dogs--even though she knew she could be putting herself in danger--something had been wrong with Inuyasha and she was determined to find out what.
And she was either going to Sit him into next year, if he deserved it--or she was going to help him get out of whatever trouble he was in.
Since it was growing late, she had changed her out of her school uniform before she left her house; now she was wearing her jeans and a warm sweater--all the better to shield against the evening chill and stumbling through the dark woods if she was going to be out looking for her hanyou companion. Pushing off the edge of the well, she moved at a hurried clip through the forest, heading for the village where her friends--and hopefully Inuyasha--waited.
"Kagome-chan!" Sango greeted in surprise, as the girl from the future trotted up to Kaede's home. "What are you doing here? I thought you weren't coming back for a week."
"Um, something came up," Kagome replied, panting as she pulled to a stop beside her friend. "Have you or Miroku-sama seen Inuyasha around?"
"Sure," the taijiya replied with a shrug. "He was here about an hour ago, as rude and sullen as always. But wasn't he with you? When he left I was sure he was going to see you..."
"No," Kagome replied, her worry increasing. "I haven't seen him for more than an hour. Where was he when you saw him?"
"Heading for the well--or at least I thought he was," Sango replied, catching on to the younger girl's concern. "He was on his way to the woods. Kagome-chan...is something wrong?"
By this time, Shippo and Miroku had heard the commotion outside and were coming out the door of the hut. "Kagome! You're back!" Shippo yelped, jumping from the monk's shoulder and into her arms.
"Hello, Shippo-chan," she greeted absently, hugging him on reflex alone.
"Is something amiss, Kagome-sama?" Miroku inquired curiously.
"Inuyasha's disappeared, apparently," Sango replied, annoyed that the hanyou was putting Kagome through such worry for his sake.
"Not only that, he's taken a Shikon shard," Kagome added--which immediately got the undivided attention of all three of her friends.
"What?" they demanded in unison.
"I counted!" Kagome said plaintively. "He came to see me earlier, then snuck out when I wasn't watching. And he took a shard! Shippo, Miroku-sama, have either of you seen him?"
"No," they both replied, Miroku looking contemplative while Shippo scratched his head.
"What would Inuyasha want with a single shard?" Sango wondered aloud. "I thought he wasn't as stupid and shallow as all those other youkai. He knows we're getting the whole Jewel--why would he suddenly steal only one, and then run?"
Yeah--why? Kagome wondered, holding Shippo tight and thinking furiously. Oh no--he hasn't taken the shard to try and fight with Shirokiba...has he? Oh, Inuyasha...! No, he wouldn't do that, he couldn't...!
"Shouldn't we go find him?" Sango asked.
Kagome snapped out of her reverie. "How will we know which way he's gone?"
Miroku gestured to Shippo. "We do have at least one nose that can track him."
"And I can call Kirara and ask her to help," Sango said. "We'll have him found in no time."
"Thank you," Kagome sighed gratefully.
"It is imperative that you find Inuyasha as soon as possible," spoke a new voice. They whirling to as the Kaede emerged from her hut, holding a very familiar object in her hands.
"Tetsusaiga?" Kagome breathed. "But why...?"
"Inuyasha left this in my home, under my care," Kaede replied, terse and troubled as well. "He would not say why--but if he is not with Kagome, and he has taken a shard, it is possible that he is in some danger. You must search for him quickly, for it may already be too late."
"This is getting weirder and weirder!" Shippo complained. "Inuyasha would never just up and leave his sword here for no reason! And with that Jewel shard he has--what the heck is he thinking?"
"I wish I knew..." Kagome sighed, pensive.
"Let's go!" Sango said firmly. "Kaede-sama can keep watch here in case he comes back. We'll go to the woods and see if Shippo and Kirara can pick up his scent."
And so they went. The sun was mostly gone by now, and the woods were shrouded in the yellow-gray shadows of evening. With Miroku guarding Kagome and keeping an eye out for those marauding inu-youkai, Sango used her tracking skills to look for sign while Kirara and Shippo cast about for any clues to Inuyasha's whereabouts.
It didn't take them long to come up with a trace of him. The young hanyou's scent turned up beyond the well, in the woods near the Goshinboku. Unfortunately, Shippo reported with some disgust that Ginnezu's scent was tracked all over under his, as if he were following her.
Kagome did not take this news well, and at her concerned insistence, the small party began to follow the trail left by the two Dogs. The scent-path turned slightly north, forming a large arc that circumnavigated the village, then struck out dead west.
Half an hour away from the village, Kagome and her friends were still hurrying along Inuyasha's trail, calling out to him--and even occasionally to Ginnezu--but getting no response whatsoever. Kagome was beginning to wish she'd brought her pack along--beginning to guess she'd be here for a while--but she did not want to turn back to get it.
So the group pressed on, deeper into the western forests--deeper into danger.
They were far, far west of the village, all but lost in the woods, when they finally came across something--but not what they were following. Just as the sun slipped beneath the horizon, Kirara stopped her tracking, hissing--and behind her Shippo froze and bristled, suddenly afraid. The humans in the party paused as well, breaking off their calls, watching their two youkai companions with some consternation.
"What's wrong?" Kagome whispered, stepping a bit closer to Miroku--who, thanks to the sudden tension of the situation, forgot to try for a grope.
"Something's coming," Shippo reported softly, sounding frightened.
"Youki," Miroku whispered, confirming what Kagome had already begun to sense.
The small group scanned the forest around them, wary. With the passing of the sun, visibility was hugely reduced; the trees and bushes had become gray shapes in the half-darkness, concealing any number of possible dangers. In the growing dark, they no longer felt so safe; without Inuyasha beside them, this little evening jaunt into the woods had suddenly become a deadly gamble on their lives.
They were all acutely aware of just how much they truly needed their powerful hanyou companion.
Swallowing her nerves, Sango reached up a hand to her boomerang, ready to throw at the slightest hint of danger--while Miroku raised his staff in one hand and fingered the beads of his sealing rosary with the other. Shippo began to retreat, as Kirara growled low at the dark shape they could just begin to see in the shadows ahead.
"What is it?" Kagome breathed, trembling, wishing for Inuyasha's presence.
"A youkai!" Shippo cried, launching himself backwards into her arms and shivering violently.
Kirara snarled and stepped forward, her ruff bristled, determined to defend them. The figure paused, just in the shadows, and they could almost see the dangerous flash of its luminous eyes in the dimness.
"Call off the sabrecat, taijiya," said a low, familiar voice.
"Shirokiba-san!" Kagome's knees went weak with relief, at least at first--until the wolf-dog came closer, and she could see his expression. It was set and cold, almost like Sesshomaru, and the hardness of his blue-gold eyes made her gasp and cover her mouth, wondering if her relief was justified--or if they had all sealed their doom.
"Call her off, taijiya, before I do it myself," Shirokiba snapped, with uncharacteristic ire.
"Kirara, come here," Sango ordered, trying to steady her voice, concerned for her pet-friend's safety. Reluctantly, Kirara ceased her warning growls and stepped back to Sango's side--but she did not return to her small form.
"Shirokiba-san...?" Kagome spoke hesitantly.
"What are you fools doing out here?" the wolf-dog demanded, his voice low and harsh. "Don't you know the wilds are death for humans at night?"
"But...Inuyasha's gone and..."
"I know." The wolf-dog youkai looked over his shoulder, in the direction the scent-trail led. "They've gone to the Western Lands."
"Will you help us find Inuyasha?" Miroku asked, gathering his nerve to speak directly to the youkai.
Shirokiba glanced sharply at the monk. "Why should I? He makes his own decisions--and I am no longer his caretaker."
Kagome stepped past Miroku--despite her friends' gasps of protest--setting her jaw and looking the cold-faced wolf-dog straight in the eye. "But you do still care about him, don't you?" She quailed when those glittering blue-gold eyes focused on her, but she tried not to show it--strengthening her voice as she made her demand. "Well, don't you?"
Something flickered across Shirokiba's face, fast and unreadable. A quick grimace, a flash of a snarl, the shadow of a frown--she couldn't tell.
"I know you and Inuyasha had a disagreement," Kagome said, mustering enough courage to continue. "I know that...whatever was said between you and Kouga-kun was painful. And...I know I'm involved somehow--Kouga-kun and Inuyasha have always hated each other because of me. So...for what it's worth...I'm very sorry." She bent at the waist, bowing humbly to him--and because of this, she didn't see the faint trace of surprise on his face.
Taking his silence as acceptance, she straighened and continued hesitantly. "I'm sorry that you and Kouga had a fight because of me. And...I'm very sad that you and Inuyasha had a fight too. But...I think you should know how upset he was when he came to me after that. I've never seen him...so hurt before, not even when Kikyo did her worst to him."
The others listened silently, respectfully, wonderingly--they'd had no idea what had happened--as the coldness slowly, almost imperceptably melted from the wolf-dog's expression.
"He was almost broken down when he came to see me," Kagome went on softly, the beginnings of tears in her eyes. "I'm sure he thought he'd never see you again. He told me what happened, and...I thought he was about to cry when he told me what you said to him. I think...what you said..."
She swallowed hard, gathering her nerve--and the words came out in a rush as she locked gazes with him and spoke before her courage ran out. "I think what you said was wrong and unkind, and he didn't deserve it. This argument between you and him and Kouga-kun--you should hold it against me, not him, since I'm probably the cause of most of it. He needs you, and he cares about you, and you shouldn't be angry with him--not for something that's really my fault."
Her tears were coming silently, openly now. "I'm very sorry that I've caused this between you. I can't ask you to forgive me, but I want to ask if you'll do this for him. I know I can't do anything to appease your anger right now...but Inuyasha might be in trouble." She bowed again, even lower this time. "Please. Shirokiba-san...will you help me find him?"
The wolf-dog was staring at her now, the surprise and regret written plainly across his face. He just stood there for long moments, gazing at her bowed form with a sort of awe--and as he watched her, two crystal tears fell from her lowered cheeks; his youkai sight could trace them as they fell to the ground, glittering in the dim starlight that filtered through the trees.
The silence drew on so long that Kagome almost wondered if he'd left. But she held her bow, and tried to hold back her tears, waiting for his response.
"How can I refuse such a request?" came his soft voice, the harshness gone from his tones to be replaced by sadness. He lightly touched her shoulder, bringing her gaze up to his--and the friendly wolf-dog youkai she had known was back, pushing aside the cold stranger he had been. Though small, that same wry smile was on his face again. "You ask this of me so earnestly...and you shed tears for he and I, not yourself..."
Gently, one clawed finger brushed her cheek, catching one of her escaped tears.
The others breathed a heavy sigh of relief, feeling that somehow, a disaster had been averted. The power that Kagome had--the power to reach and touch even a youkai heart--had once again worked its magic.
Kagome almost broke down in tears of gratitude herself, her eyes shining up into his. "You'll help us?" she asked breathlessly.
"My words to Inuyasha were spoken in anger..." the wolf-dog responded, his head lowering. "I know I cannot hold him responsible for what is not his fault...just as I cannot blame you for what is not yours either. What is between Kouga and I should remain so. Those words I spoke to Inuyasha...I spoke in grief and anger, and I already regret them...but the damage is done..."
Kagome touched his sleeve hesitantly, her expression hopeful. "He won't hold it against you--I know he won't! He knows you were upset then. He'll be glad to see you, and I know you want to see him too..."
Shirokiba let out a breath, his voice a soft shadow. "I fear I have forever broken something which cannot be mended."
"Then we have to find him!" she insisted, almost tugging at his arm. "How else will you make up with him?"
"You said you knew which way he's gone," Sango stated, breaking in to remind them of their mission.
"I do," the wolf-dog replied. "They've gone to the Western Lands. And if I am correct, tonight is the night of the Autumn Howl-Gathering, when the moon is full and all the Clans come together as one."
"A 'Howl-Gathering?'" Sango inquired curiously. "I've never heard of such a thing, even among the youkai my family keeps--kept track of."
"I'm not surprised," Shirokiba replied. "The Howl-Gathering is for the Dogs alone--no other youkai dare approach their territory at this time, and any taijiya would be suicidal to be anywhere near that area at this time."
"Isn't howling something only wolves do?" Shippo asked innocently.
The wolf-dog actually chuckled. "Indeed. But this traditional meeting has existed for so many millenia that the first Dogs to take part were still very closely related to the Wolves," he explained. "Though the Dogs can truly Sing no more, still they feel the pull of the moon as their ancient ancestors did--and thus they gather at the High Stone to bay at the stars. Almost a cry for their lost heritage..."
"The High Stone--is that where Inuyasha has gone?" Miroku asked.
"The Howl-Gathering festival is held there once every season, at the first night of the full moon," Shirokiba stated. "The High Stone is the ancient stronghold of the inu-youkai, and the home of what remains of the White Dog Clan. Few as they are, they still live there to this day; it is their castle, so to speak--a vast clifflike rock in the side of a great mountain, and in it and beneath it are the grand caverns that form their dens."
"If that's the case, then...we needn't worry about him so much, right?" Sango said, half-encouragingly.
"Not necessarily," the wolf-dog observed with a frown. "He's stepped into the tiger's jaws now. If they decide to destroy him, there's little any of us could do."
"And in addition, the fool went and left the Tetsusaiga behind," Miroku said disapprovingly.
"Then his chances are even worse," Shirokiba responded.
"And Ginnezu is with him!" Kagome blurted suddenly, remembering all the cruel and cunning things the female youkai had said and done. "I don't know what she might be doing to him--"
Shirokiba looked tense, and grieved. "In all honesty, miko-chan, she probably plans to seduce him once they're among all the other youkai. Whether or not he holds out against her...depends entirely upon you, and how well you used what I told you." He glanced meaningfully at her.
Kagome blushed. "Um, I have...sort of...but..."
The others only looked on curiously, having no clue what she was talking about.
"Inuyasha has also taken a Shikon shard with him," Miroku spoke up again. "Do you know what this could mean?"
Shirokiba looked genuinely surprised. "A shard of that cursed bauble? I have no idea why he would. Perhaps he plans to use its power to enhance his own, to ensure his safetly among the other full-youkai--or perhaps Ginnezu has managed to seduce him enough that he brought one for her alone--"
"No!" Kagome interrupted, perhaps a little more forcefully than she had intended. "I mean, I doubt he'd do that. He doesn't like her at all--and besides, he's always so defensive about the Jewel, he'd never give it up to anyone for a silly reason..." She caught herself running on and halted, blushing even more.
"Either way, it doesn't bode well," Sango said, speaking for all of them. "When the Shikon no Tama is involved with youkai, only ill has ever come of it."
"True, from what I've heard." Shirokiba frowned again. "Very well; I will go on ahead to the Western Lands. But I have not attended a Howl-Gathering in some time, myself--since I met Inuyasha--so I do not know what the Daimyos intend."
"Do you think he'll be alright?" Kagome asked quickly.
"I cannot say," the wolf-dog responded softly. "I believe that he will have allies in at least the White and Gray Clans--his father's friends. However, I can't be certain what Ginnezu may have planned for him. I will try to find out..."
"Then I'm coming with you!" Kagome blurted.
The entire gathering stared at her in surprise. Sango and Miroku were shocked speechless, while Shippo cried "No!" and clung to her even tighter.
Even Shirokiba looked stunned for a moment, before he found his tongue. "Not a chance, girl! You would not come back alive!"
"But--" she began to protest.
"Those youkai would rip you to pieces, and there isn't anything I could do to stop them," the wolf-dog explained firmly. "I cannot protect you from Dogs twice my size and strength! And even if one of them had the gall to leave you alive long enough to rape you, you wouldn't live very long afterward--he'd kill you and eat you just for fun, once he's done with you."
Kagome paled and gulped. "I...I'm willing to take that chance," she quavered, her heart strong where her body was weak.
"I'm not," Shirokiba retorted, shaking his head. "Stop and think of what it would do to Inuyasha if you were killed! He's almost been lost to grief two times already--and now nearly thrice because of my foolish temper! I would lose all hope of reconciliation if I let you come to harm--and he would go mad with sorrow if you died!"
"That's nothing compared to what Ginnezu might do to him!" Kagome replied.
"Girl," the wolf-dog rumbled, distressed by her vehemence. "I am not strong enough to protect you from them..."
"Kagome-chan, please," Sango pleaded. "Come back with us, and let Shirokiba-san--"
"No!" she cried, pulling away from the humans. "Even if you leave me behind, Shirokiba-san, I'll still be heading west tonight--until I find Inuyasha!"
"Kagome?" Shippo quavered softly, his lip trembling. "Please don't go. I don't want them to eat you..."
Kagome paused, looking down at the little kitsune. "I have to go, Shippo-chan. Don't worry, I won't let them eat me--I'll come back when I find Inuyasha."
"Human girl, you are as stupid as you are brave," Shirokiba said, shaking his head in wonderment and exasperation, amazed that she was willing to walk blindly into certain death--all for the sake of a coarse young hanyou, who at this point was proving himself unworthy of her pure, strong heart and earnest devotion. "But I commend you for your courage."
Kagome set Shippo down--despite the kitsune's continued pleas--and faced Shirokiba. "So you'll take me with you?"
"As you said--if I don't, you'll just go off alone and get yourself killed even sooner," the youkai replied with a sigh. "I might as well see how long I can prevent that from happening."
"Oh, thank you, Shirokiba-san!"
Shirokiba held up a hand. "Thank me when I get you back home safely--if that has a chance of happening."
"We can accompany you on Kirara," Sango said firmly. "That way, we can provide at least some defense."
Shirokiba regarded her calmly. "Against the inu-youkai? Taijiya, you and your pet would not last a minute. Even you, human monk--you would be killed before your cursed hand could pull in more than a dozen of them. And there will be many more than a dozen--nearly every inu-youkai in the surrounding regions will be there. Have you not seen Inuyasha's strength, or Sesshomaru's? And they are only pups--children, compared with some of the ancient Dogs who will come tonight."
There was tense, awed silence for a moment, as they digested what he told them. Even Miroku looked disquieted, and he was quite used to taking down even oni with his Kazaana. Sango, pale-faced, remembered that she had never tried to exterminate a true-blooded inu-youkai such as Sesshomaru--only Mountain Dogs, who were yapping mongrels by comparison.
Still, Kagome-chan was going into danger--and that was something she could not stand. "Couldn't we at least--?"
"No." Shirokiba's gaze passed steadily over the group. "The rest of you should stay. I will be hard-pressed to hide one human--much less three humans, a sabrecat, and a kitsune kit. I don't like risking even one life--much less five, and my own should the girl and I be caught."
"We're willing to take the same risk Kagome-chan is!" Sango protested. "If she's going off into such circumstances, I want to be right beside her to--!"
"No--Sango-chan, he's right," Kagome interrupted quietly. "I don't want you guys to get hurt because of me. Please do as Shirokiba-san says."
"But Kagome--!" Sango and Miroku tried, almost in unison. However, the look on the young girl's face froze their words in their throats.
"Good luck," Sango mumbled, worried and sad. "If it helps any..."
"I will pray for the Buddha's protection on you both," Miroku said offered firmly, still reluctant to let her go. "Though I wish I could face the danger by your side, Kagome-sama."
"Thanks, you guys," Kagome replied honestly, then looked to Shirokiba. "Ready?"
The wolf-dog youkai sighed. "Come with me, then."
He turned on his heel and strode away, leaving Kagome scurrying to catch up. She turned and waved to her friends as she hurried, keeping her face and voice cheerful despite the fear she felt. "Bye, guys! I'll be back--I promise!"
"Goodbye, Kagome-sama!" Miroku said. "Our thoughts go with you!"
"Be safe--and hurry back!" Sango called. "And Shirokiba-san--you take care of her, you hear me? If she doesn't come back I'll hunt you down for the rest of my days!"
Kagome hurried after the departing wolf-dog, trying not to giggle at Sango's bravado. Shirokiba merely snorted amusedly at the thought of the taijiya hunting him, and walked on.