Prompts used: Forest, Happiness, Dog

Characters: Inuyasha, Kagome


Stubborn Dog

Kagome struggled to throw the big yellow backpack out of the well, then she took a deep breath, moving a sweaty lock from her forehead. Finally, she stepped over the edge and found herself in the big meadow just outside the forest, inhaling the cleaner Sengoku air.

She had spent the last few days buried in her bedroom, studying for the make-up exams necessary for her promotion, and being free was a wonderful feeling.

When she finally looked up, she found the sullen gaze of her favourite half-demon in front of her: Inuyasha was sitting as his usual, arms and legs crossed, his sword slung over his shoulder and a deep frown between his dark brows.

"You're late," he exclaimed immediately. "I was just a step away from coming to take you back by force."

She rolled her eyes, then watched him better as he stood up and made to pick up the yellow monstrosity overflowing with supplies. She noticed that his movements seemed strangely... slow. She studied him critically and then asked, "Are you ok? Did something happen while I was away?" It almost seemed to her that Inuyasha jumped on the spot at hearing that question, but a moment later, he was back to his usual self and on the defensive.

"What could ever happen, stupid? This village is boring as usual, and we had to wait all this time here just because of you."

Kagome narrowed her eyes in response, noticing Inuyasha's grimace as he slung her backpack over his shoulder and walked towards the forest. As was his wont, the half-demon was tremendously stubborn, yet, that didn't mean she wasn't as well, quite the contrary. When it came to stubbornness, Kagome was a worthy opponent.


When they reached Kaede's hut, no one was there, and Kagome judged that to be a good omen. Deciding to put her plan into action, she asked him to fetch some wood for the dying fire and also take the opportunity to stock up.

As soon as Inuyasha was gone, Kagome followed him with her eyes and noticed the way he winced at a particular effort or new grimaces on his face. She went back inside and pulled bandages, cotton pads and disinfectant out of her backpack, waiting for him to return. When, a few minutes later, the half-demon reappeared with his arms full of wood, he immediately noticed what the girl had prepared and unceremoniously dropped everything on the ground. He stepped back and made to disappear, but Kagome stopped him.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," she threatened him.

"I'm not hungry anymore," he replied. "I'll eat my ramen later."

"You will stay."

"What do you think you're doing?" he yelled, giving her a defiant look.

"What do you think you're doing, Inuyasha?"

"You're the one who set this up. Didn't you need the wood? Then why bring up that stinking stuff?" He pointed with a claw at the evil hydrogen peroxide.

"You know it very well," she retorted, moving closer and returning his glare. Now they were face to face, and neither wanted to give the other the upper hand.

"I have no idea what you're talking about, Kagome."

"Yes, you do," she continued, raising a finger and pointing it at him, pushing against his shoulder and eliciting another grimace. "A-ha! Do you see that? Will you finally confess?"

"Oi! I have nothing to confess," he gasped, moving her finger away and blushing at the closeness.

"I've got it all figured out, Inuyasha. Now you choose: I can say the word and immobilize you, finding out for myself where you hurt yourself, or you can make my job easier," she concluded, crossing her arms and already anticipating victory.

The half-demon broke into a cold sweat, also thinking about how much pain it would cause him to be knocked to the ground with his wound still open. However, his stubborn pride still refused to lose. "I-I don't know what you're talking about, really," he repeated, his voice no longer so confident.

Kagome grinned. "Si-" she began, but a pair of hands immediately covered her mouth, silencing her.

"Okay, okay, you win!" he gave up quickly, fearing she would actually finish the sentence, then carefully removed his hands.

"So?" she asked expectantly.

Inuyasha slumped down on the ground and gave her his back to avoid her triumphant gaze. "I'm hurt," he mumbled, so low that Kagome barely heard it.

"I can't hear you," she singsonged anyway to have some more fun.

"Keh," Inuyasha snorted, turning his head and giving her the stink eye. "I said: I'm hurt," he hissed through gritted teeth.

Kagome giggled, immediately picking up the necessities and signalling for him to open his robe and under kosode. Inuyasha indulged her, even if reluctantly, because he knew it was a losing battle. She always did that; she insisted on taking care of every small wound of his, even though she knew his blood would fix it for him. But if he were honest, he'd say he really enjoyed it; no one had cared so much but his mother. And he also liked when she got all bothered because he didn't comply with her.

So he let her and kept for himself those last thoughts – at least for now.

"Did it take that long?" she asked when she finished, getting no reply except for a Keh that made her laugh.

And while she put everything back in her backpack and peered at him finally inhaling his ramen, she thought that she knew no better feeling, not even passing her exams.


N/A: I just needed something silly and cute about these two idiots in love to finish this collection. I still have at least another one-shot for the Bingo Bonanza, but it'll be published as a stand-alone.

Thanks so much for reading and leaving your love behind. I hoped you enjoyed it!